The spokesperson of the Imole Campaign Council and Accord Party candidate for Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has dismissed reports suggesting that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the January 16 election.
Olajengbesi, in a statement issued on Friday, described the claim as false and misleading, accusing an unnamed APC House of Representatives candidate in the constituency of attempting to deceive voters with the allegation.
According to him, the APC candidate had been telling voters that Governor Adeleke would officially join the APC after the January 16 election, claiming that an understanding had already been reached between the governor and the ruling party.
Olajengbesi said there was no such agreement and urged residents of Ijesa North to disregard the claim.
“The public should please note that this claim is false. Governor Ademola Adeleke will not be joining the APC after the January 16 election or after the presidential election,” Olajengbesi said.
The Accord Party chieftain also addressed Governor Adeleke’s relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that the governor’s support for the President should not be interpreted as an indication that he intends to defect to the APC.
He further clarified that Adeleke’s support for Tinubu should not be regarded as an endorsement of APC candidates contesting other elections.
Olajengbesi expressed concern that the unnamed APC candidate was allegedly attempting to use the governor’s goodwill for political advantage ahead of the election.
“We are surprised that this individual would now desperately attempt to trade on the goodwill of Mr Governor to deceive and mislead the good people of Ijesa North,” he said.
He maintained that political candidates should campaign based on their own records, programmes and qualifications rather than relying on claims of agreements or political understandings that do not exist.
“Political aspirations should be pursued on their own merit, not by creating impressions or understandings that do not exist,” Olajengbesi added.
The statement comes amid political activities and competing claims by parties and candidates ahead of the January 16 election, with the future political alignment of Governor Adeleke becoming a subject of debate among supporters and political actors.
Olajengbesi, however, insisted that Adeleke’s current political position should not be misrepresented as a plan to join the APC.
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